Updates

Hi all! The blogging class went well. I'll probably end up doing one again in maybe 6 months or so, who knows. I've got all the info pulled so it'll be a breeze to do it again.

Honeslty, not too much is new with me lately. I went to New York last weekend and stayed with Sandy. We saw Kathy Griffin and I finally got to meet Morgan who I knew I would be bffs with from the start. It's been a long few weeks for me. I've been busy at work, and in life in general and I'm really looking to catch up on sleep this weekend.

Oh and the hodge sucks... it's recently taken another fighter, Sarah. I might need to take a break from the forum soon.

XO

Blogging Training Class Tomorrow

Hi all -

I know it's been a while since I've posted. I did it on purpose so Morgan could have some time with her tribute. Thanks for the nice message Darlene - I'm glad Curt is using the pillow cases! One of my friends said she'll be happy when she gets into bed with him :)

Anywho, I'm doing a blogging training at the Wellness Community in Newton tomorrow if you are so inclined to join and learn how to set up a blog. I'll be putting together a presentation and handouts, so if you can't make it but want some help, just let me know and I'll send along the info. The training starts at 6pm on Tuesday night.

I'll do a real post sometime later this week.

XO

An Ode To Morgan Holsinger

Well unfortunately the unfortunate has happened, Morgan has passed away. I kept dreading reading her blog updates this week because I had a feeling something awful might happen!

Although I am far from religious, I ask that all of you please say a prayer for her family and husband that are left to cope without her humor and pure amazingness. She put up a strong fight and will still be down in my book as the funniest cancer patient to ever grace my life. I really hope she got to see her ridiculous lamb pillow cases before her passing. I'm so mad at myself for taking as long as I did to send them.

Below is the last post on her site, posted from her husband Curt.

As some of you may already know, our Champ Fighter, Morgan, has gone Home. She is home with our Heavenly Daddy.
However, I want it to go on the record, she did not lose this fight against cancer! She chose to go home. She died with honor and dignity, keeping her chin up and she went down swinging!
This afternoon she told us (Bob, Darlene, and me) that she loved us all. And to give her love to her brother, Matt. Then she said, "I wanna go... I want to go home."
She took off her oxygen mask, pulled out a tube that was in her nose for meds, and... ...she went Home.
She tried to raise her hands, which were weighted down with tubes and wires, and said, "Take me home, God."
And God welcomed her home.
Some people may say that God needed another angel in Heaven, and that might be why He took her home. But I choose to believe different.
Angels are created beings who have no free will. We have the ability to make our own decisions, from "should I use this red crayon or this blue crayon," to "Where will I live?" Or "Do I believe in God?"
Morgan chose to Love God, despite the fact that He had allowed all of this to happen to her.
That's the thing with God, He chooses to limit His power when He chooses to love. He could have made us like angels, with built-in and programmed love for Him. But he knew that wouldn't be real love.
In a concentration camp, the guards have extreme power (in a human sense). They can make people do whatever they want under threat of starvation, or torture, or death. But what they cannot do is make people love them! Nor can God!! God knew that when He made us with our own mind and our own ability to choose.
Morgan chose to believe in and to love God. She lived her life to the fullest, bringing glory to God every day!
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement!
We will keep you posted on funeral arrangements.
Sad for myself, Glad for my wife,
- Curt

My Cancer Pals Need Support

This is already starting to be annoying week for my cancer pals

Morgan is in and out of the ICU and has been on a breathing machine and sedated. And damnit, if anyone can fight this, she can! I have already declared her the official funniest cancer patient ever - and of course one of the toughest! She has dealt with all of this crap (this being her second transplant in a year!) with laughter, intelligence, and grace. Soooo please keep the happy thoughts coming for her, and also if you get ambitious, please leave her a message on her blog.

Today, I finally sent her a hopefully amazing gift! Last week I bought her some lime green pillow cases, I really wanted yellow, but I couldn't find any :( Anywho, I got the pillow cases, and then bought some printable iron on paper, and voila! She now has some lamb pillow cases in the mail on their way to the hospital! I printed some lamb coloring pages, and I think they came out kinda good - and ironed them onto the pillow cases this morning. Mostly funny, yet functional! I hope they arrive soon and at least make her laugh!

Then there is Maria from work. She's currently fighting breast cancer and is on her second round of chemo, the tougher round. And if that isn't enough, she had a fire in her house and her and her family had to relocate to a townhouse for 4-6 months! I can't even imagine what she's going thru! So please also think happy thoughts for her.

And finally, there's Bekah. She recently found out that she has relapsed and is on her way to SCT (stem cell transplant) hell. Please check out her new blog and leave her some love and support!

Who's got time to worry about themselves when others are dealing with so much more! Puts things in perspective, eh?

XO

Funky

I haven't posted on a while... I'm in kind of a funk. Bekah found out earlier this week that she had relapsed. We finished treatment about the same time this year... we're about the same age, she's more of a health fanatic than I am though... so you would just think, I would be the one... but nope! So it's kinda slowly wearing on me. Bekah, I haven't called you yet because I don't know what to say, and I dunno, I just don't want to bother you in this crazy time. But I will call you soon. You're always welcome to call me to talk in the meantime! So yeah, that's part of my funk...

My other funk... is work. I had a lot of fun busy-ness last week. This week was menial stuff, which is fine, but I felt like I was training the world and it was keeping me from doing what I needed to do. And then some of the people have just been wearing on me. Too much drama. Too much crap. Too many cliques. And by the time I get into work at 10, everyone is all settled, so it's kinda awkward. And someone that I usually think is really awesome and nice and all that fun stuff, tried to make a joke/comment about me "strolling in at 10" every morning.... and it just really got me mad because then I started thinking that other people probably say shit like that behind my back... and well I just got really annoyed! I think people think I get paid like a full timer but really the company pays me like a part timer and my disability insurance (that everyone at the company has!) pays the rest. So I feel like I'm supposed to defend myself, explain myself, prove myself... and I just don't feel like it. And then there is this cute entry level girl that I'm working with and I think she's scared of me! And I don't know how to make her unscared! I'm really nice and just trying to make sure she understands stuff and does things are efficient as possible... but I think it's backfiring and making her think I'm scary! Ugh. Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm really looking forward to it. I feel better now that I've vented, but the week has really worn on me. I was starting to feel fevery tonight when I got home... bleh. I'm off to bed.

I promise to post more soon. And please think happy thoughts for Bekah who will be heading to transplant soon (I'm assuming) and Morgan who's already fighting the transplant yuckies for the second time!

XO

This Day Last Year - Pre-Chemopalooza

So last night was the night I had my first Chemopalooza --- Pre-Chemopalooza -- the last Hooorah! Weird what a year does, eh! I remember it because it was the Saturday after New Years weekend, and someone actually didn't come because they had drank too much for New Years -- worst excuse I've ever heard since it was my last hoorah, who says YOU have to drink, stupid! Ha!

In other news, I had a really good, busy day at work on Friday. I was glued to my desk after lunch because of some big news with one of my clients... which is exactly what I missed when I was out of work! I hope it's like that every week (unfortunately it won't be) but I'm really excited for the craziness and importantness of them... I even had a CEO of a company call me and ask me if something was strategic, ha ha, I basically told him no, ha ha. But yeah, Friday was one of those days that made me love my job again, and I didn't mind how late I stayed (7pm) because I wanted to get things done and right :)

A few days ago I posted a thread on the Lymphoma board about MS to see how many people had relatives with it AND the hodge.... surprisingly, I got A LOT of responses... just a strange finding I wanted to share!

Oh and last night, I went to the movies with Pat and he really wanted to see I Am Legend, so even though I was told it would give me nightmares, I still saw it because I'm an awesome BFF, and oh my friggin' god! I wanted to leave after the first 10 minutes! I kept jumping out of my seat and hugging myself... it was about a woman finding a cure for cancer, but then it backfired and everyone in the world died except for a small handful of people, including Will Smith and his dog (the looked like a skinny version of my parents dog!) and as soon as I saw the dog in the beginning, I knew it was going to die! Booo! So yeah, I won't give it away, but basically next chick flick I want to see Pat's coming with me! I watched a lot of stupid TV before I went to bed so I wouldn't have nightmares :)

I'm going to try and make myself go to the gym soon. Oh, and I finally got period number 2, so bring on the birth control!! I can't wait for better skin, and of course, knowing when I'll be getting it every month will be very helpful as well! Yay!

I think that's all for now!

XO

Dad Update

Hi everyone! Thanks for the nice thoughts for Dad! He's doing awesome and was done with surgery at 9:30 this morning! And he's already feeling better than pre-surgery, crazy huh?! And he doesn't sound like a major smoker like I did after my biopsy, what a scam; I sounded like crap for half a week! :) Anywho, he's feeling terrific, thought I would share!

Oh and tomorrow is Friday.... YAY!

XO

Happy Thoughts For Dad Tomorrow...

Since Dad was always there for my doctor stuff, it's kind of a bummer that I won't be able to be there tomorrow when he's having back surgery. I've got to work, and I would totally take the day off, but I've got a new client coming in to meet with us... so I'm asking all of you to think happy thoughts tomorrow morning for Dad's back surgery...

Thanks!
XO

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

I hope you all had a fabulous night, don't forget to post your resolutions to me :) This is probably one of the first new years that I didn't DRINK, therefor I'm not hungover :) I had A beer, and that was it... ahh being old. And yes, Julie, those people making out probably hated you, but it was a good story at least! :)

By the way, it's a new year, so I added a few new songs, I hope you enjoy them! I liked them so much I bought her cd, you can listen to some more songs by Ingrid Michaelson on her myspace page, they're nice and happy and cheery, like the new year should be.

Enjoy!

XO